Harrogate hospital pledges ‘minimal disruption’ as nurses’ strike looms

People who need care at Harrogate hospital should continue to come forward despite the threat of industrial action, health officials have said.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said it has yet to be notified officially that its nursing staff will strike next month.

It comes as the Royal College of Nursing confirmed a national walkout will take place on December 15 and 20 over a pay dispute with the government.

A spokesperson for the RCN told the Stray Ferret exact locations for the strikes will be revealed next week and that next month will be the first phase of industrial action.

They added:

“Not all members at employers where there is a mandate to strike will be called to strike on these first two dates. 

“Phase one could be just the beginning of a longer period of strike action.”

Despite the threat of a walkout, officials at Harrogate hospital have urged people to continue to come forward for care if they require it.

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The trust said that those who have an operation on the planned strike days will be notified if their treatment is affected.

A Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said:

“While pay is a matter for government and the trade unions, we value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering world class patient care to all those who need it.

“We understand the importance of good pay and conditions for individuals and their families, as well as wider NHS staff retention and recruitment.

“We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal should any strike action take place, and have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption.

“We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum, and any members of the public that need care should continue to come forward as normal.

“If you have an appointment or operation that is scheduled on a proposed strike day we would kindly ask you to be patient and we will notify you as soon as possible if strike action at HDFT is confirmed and your treatment will be affected.”

Harrogate district braced for rail and postal strikes

The Harrogate district is set to be affected by rail and postal strikes this week.

No trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough to Leeds and York on Saturday due to a walk-out by members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen as part of a dispute over pay and conditions.

Northern, which operates local services between Leeds and York, has urged passengers not to travel as no rail replacement services will be operated.

The company said:

“On strike days, only travel by rail if necessary and if you do travel, expect severe disruption and plan ahead – especially the first and last trains of the day.

“If you do decide to travel, there will be very limited services running across the whole rail network so remember to check your entire journey as other train service providers may be affected.”

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LNER, which operates trains from Harrogate to London King’s Cross, has urged passengers to check services before they travel.

The company is set to operate a limited timetable on Saturday when strike action is being held.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the ASLEF, said staging a walkout was a “last resort” for the union.

Further strikes are planned after the RMT union announced today it planned four 48-hour strikes on December 13-14 and 16-17 and January 3-4 and 6-7.

Postal strike

The Communication Workers Union has notified Royal Mail they plan to call on their members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to take national strike action on Thursday and Friday this week as well as on November 30 and December 1.

Royal Mail said in a statement:

“Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but we cannot fully replace the daily efforts of our frontline workforce.

“We’ll be doing what we can to keep services running, but we are sorry this planned strike action is likely to cause you some disruption.”

Ambulance workers in Harrogate district could be set to strike

Staff at Yorkshire Ambulance Service are set to vote on strike action over a government pay offer.

The service employs 7,200 staff and covers all of North Yorkshire, including the Harrogate district.

The GMB Union, which represents 1,500 ambulance workers, said it held a consultative ballot over strike action which saw 90% vote in favour of a walk-out.

Turnout for the vote was 80%.

It comes after the government offered staff a 4% pay increase.

Following the outcome on the consultative ballot, Unions are now set to move towards holding a formal vote on industrial action.

Deanne Ferguson, GMB organiser, said:

“Ambulance staff should not be worrying about how they’ll heat their homes this winter or feed their families, whilst carrying out a crucial service across our communities.

“The service is crumbling, and it is having an impact on everyone – it is only surviving because of the amazing workers holding it together, through goodwill.

“GMB members have had enough, they are angry – and that’s why they want to move to a formal ballot for strike action.

“They’ve made history with their turnout and vote.

“GMB Union will stand shoulder to shoulder with our members as we fight for an above inflation pay rise for our NHS heroes.”

Dates for the formal ballot will be announced in the “coming days”, the union said.

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No Harrogate and Knaresborough trains on Thursday amid more strikes

No trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough on Thursday amid more national strikes.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association are set to strike this week over pay and conditions.

The latest industrial action will see thousands of workers walk out on Thursday and Saturday.

Northern, which operates trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough, has advised passengers not to travel on those days.

As a result of the strike action, no trains will run to Leeds and York from Harrogate on Thursday.

Services are still scheduled to run on Saturday, but Northern has warned that passengers may still face disruption.

Northern said:

“RMT and TSSA unions have called for industrial action on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August. We are advising Northern customers not to travel on these days.

“We also expect disruption to services on Friday 19 and Sunday 21 August, especially in the morning. Customers are urged to check before they travel on these days.”

Mick Lynch, general secretary at RMT, said:

“The rail industry and the government need to understand that this dispute will not simply vanish.

“They need to get serious about providing an offer on pay which helps deal with the cost-of-living crisis, job security for our members and provides good conditions at work.”

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Last month, members of the RMT union organised a picket line outside Harrogate train station as part of the ongoing dispute.

 

No trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough as strike begins

No trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough today as a national strike gets underway.

Harrogate station was deserted this morning with no picketers outside. However, the ticket office was still manned.

The RMT union has called the strike, which is also scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, over pay and conditions.

Thousands of drivers, signal operators and guards will walk out, crippling services.

Timetables published by Northern don’t show any trains on the Harrogate line on Tuesday or Thursday this week and there will be no replacement buses.

The train operator is currently expecting to run limited services on Saturday, although the company has warned of disruption and urged people to seek alternative travel.

LNER will also be running no services to London King’s Cross from Harrogate on all three strike days.

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Some trains are expected to run on non-strike days, however Northern has warned that services could still be affected.

The company is advising passengers not to travel on trains on any day between Tuesday and Sunday.

Harrogate council strike action averted after national ballot

The prospect of Harrogate Borough Council staff going on strike over pay has been removed after a national ballot.

Trade union Unison balloted members over whether or not to take industrial action after members rejected a 1.75% pay increase last year.

The offer followed a national consultation from the Local Government Association over a pay increase.

Of 62% of Unison members in the Harrogate district, 74% voted to refuse the pay offer.

However, a national ballot held last month on whether to take strike action over the offer saw just 14.5% of Unison members turn out to vote.

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Under government trade union laws, strike action cannot legally progress unless there is at least a 50% turnout for the ballot and the majority votes to strike. Because the national turnout was just 14.5%, the strike will not therefore take place.

David Houlgate, secretary of the Harrogate branch of Unison, said the proposed 1.75% pay offer would only increase pressure on frontline council services.

He said:

“While an overwhelming majority of those who voted were prepared to show their anger at the employers’ derisory 1.75% pay offer by taking strike action, they are prevented from doing so because the number of votes cast in the ballot is less than 50% of the number entitled to vote in the ballot.

“With inflation predicted to hit 6% this year, this amounts to another real terms pay cut for council workers across the country and will increase the pressure on frontline services, already struggling with a huge number of vacancies and losing employees at an alarming rate.”

Council staff ‘deeply unhappy’ over pay

Unison and other trade unions have said they will now look towards next year’s pay offer.

Mike Short, head of local government at Unison, said:

“The results show there’s deep unhappiness among council and education staff about a pay offer so far below the ​spiralling cost of living.

“There’s a real danger ​local authorities and schools will now lose staff to employers willing ​and able to g​rant above-inflation wage rises. Leading supermarkets, hospitality outlets and ​other private sector firms ​have either made, or are ​considering, pay increases allowing workers to keep on top of ​rocketing bills.

“Unison will consider ​its next steps and liaise with ​other unions when the​ir ballots are complete.”

Harrogate council staff could strike over ‘derisory’ pay offer in New Year

Strike action over a “derisory” pay offer for council staff could take place in Harrogate in the New Year.

Unison at Harrogate Borough Council is set to ballot members over whether or not to take industrial action after its members rejected a 1.75% pay increase last month.

Of a turnout of 62% of its members, 74% voted to refuse the pay offer.

The offer followed a national consultation from the Local Government Association over a pay increase.

A draft timetable will see members receive ballot papers from December 1 and close on January 14.

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It means strike action could take place as early as February, if members vote for this option.

David Houlgate, secretary of the Harrogate branch of Unison, has described the pay offer as “inadequate” and “derisory”.

He said:

“This overwhelming majority makes clear the strength of feeling among local government workers about their pay, here in Harrogate but nationwide too.

“Council and school workers have been the unsung heroes of the covid pandemic, working tirelessly and often at risk to their own safety to serve their communities.

“Meanwhile, since 2010 the value of their pay has fallen by 25%. The 1.75% pay offer is completely inadequate and Unison members have made their feelings about it clear.”